Imperfect Paradise: After two years of progress, homelessness went up in LA. Why?

Homelessness increased in Los Angeles this year following two previous years of declines, according to the recently released 2026 “point-in-time” homeless count. It’s a setback for the region, and for L.A. Mayor Karen Bass who’s touted prior declines as evidence that her approach to addressing the homelessness crisis is working. But is it really? On this episode of Imperfect Paradise, LAist reporter Aaron Schrank examines how the count is conducted, why it matters so much, and who’s responsible for its results.

UPDATE: Since recording this episode, we have learned that Rick Cole is an unpaid advisor on Nithya Raman's mayoral campaign. 

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Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.